Customer Reviews

Play the Harmonica Well

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If you want to play classical (ie Larry Adler) or jazz harmonica this book is essential. The book treats the chromatic harmonica as a serious musical instrument. Just like learning a "real" wind instrument (eg oboe, clarinet, flute etc) you will start by learning posture and breathing. One of the most important parts of the book is the detailed and very clear explanations of how to play legato on a harmonica (ie how to make a smooth flow going from a blow note to a draw note!).

Although this book was published in 1999. I previously had a (more expensive) "home published" version of this book for more than 2 years. This book significantly sped up my learning and even years later I still get more out of this comprehensive book. Every time I play the harmonica I sit/stand, hold the instrument and play legato the way i learnt from this book - even years later.

There are no scale exercises or notes on staves in this book - there are plenty of other books for that. This unique book is a comprehensive method and resource that taught me how to adjust my hand position to get "resonance" from the instrument and many other major advances in my playing.

Doug Tate is well known and respected on harmonica newsgroups for his excellent advice on playing chromatic harmoinca. A perfect companion to this book is Doug's other book "Make your harmonica play well" - it covers maintenance and modifications to the instrument so that a poor instrument doesn't slow your learning.

The problem with some authors, regardless the subject, is that sometimes great performers and musicians simply cannot put things down on paper, and no matter how many times you read that chapter something doesn't make sense. Some are so used to the every-day technical details which became natural along all the years of practice they forget the reader still needs to *learn* them, leaving some sort of gap that can only be crossed with a few new bruises.

"Play The Harmonica Well", by Douglas Tate, fortunately, doesn't fit any of the above. It's a great book, well written, concise and, let's say, beginner friendly. Since some extra experimentation and knowledge of the instrument will help to get more out of the book, a good choice is not to pick as THE first book, but to include it in the middle of the "bunch". For example, you will learn about holding the instrument and embouchure, but don't expect to learn which hole does what, scales and tabs of "Oh! Suzanna" and "When the Saints go Marching In". You can easily find plenty of material about it.

The main focus of this book is to teach the very technique of playing, the traps to avoid and the subtle concepts you must have in mind if you care about how you are going to make your harmonica sound. The text flows easily. It's not formal like many regular music books and the overall feel is mostly of "advising" rather than "teaching". Everything is put in a careful, objective and VERY descriptive way (the first time I felt all the drawings were there and not a single additional one was necessary). Tate also takes care of preparing your nerves and patience when a particular practice requires so, without scaring the reader.

Don't be fooled by the reduced number of pages comparing to other books. I have not felt a single word missing when it was supposed to be there. Quoting Tate himself from an email, "it does exactly what says on the tin".

This book is a good coach for beginner or intermediate player. There are points which even the accomplished player can benefit from. By stressing proper technique and not including songs, it allows for adapting your type of music to the teaching points made. I continue to go back to sections when I am not hearing the sound I want. Invariably I have failed to remember a basic point and get set straight. I only wish I had had the opportunity to know Mr. Tate.

Bought this, Mel Bay's book for the Chromatic harmonica and the "Harmonica for Dummies"book. Of the three, the Dummies book is by far the most comprehensive and informative for the novice player even though it is not designed for the chromatic harmonica. I found the Mel Bay book very disappointing. This one seemed to be in the middle. It seems OK but not inspired and left me as a novice wanting more information.